Medford Schools Set Racial Equity Task Force

MEDFORD, MA — The Medford Public Schools this month finalized its Racial Equity Task Force, which was created last summer following community conversations around the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and local and national calls for racial justice.

"The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor along with the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, brought forth a national outcry for racial justice," Medford Superintendent Marice Edouard-Vincent said in a statement. "This was further amplified through the voices of our own Medford students who took to social media to discuss their experiences as students of color. The Medford Public Schools' mission is not only to provide education, but to also provide social and emotional support for our students."

The task force began its work in October, but its membership was announced at the Jan. 7 School Committee meeting. The group will research, examine and make recommendations to "maintain an anti-racist, equitable and socially just school district," school officials said.

The task force includes students, faculty, parents, administrators and city staff. It meets every two weeks and is currently exploring a district-wide equity audit. Additionally, the group will examine the following topics:

• Staff Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention
• Curriculum Revisions
• Professional Development
• Student Disciplinary Practices

"It is important that, to develop a strategic and coordinated approach to address issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the Medford Public Schools, we must include the voices and opinions from every level; from students and parents to school administration and community leaders," Edouard-Vincent said. "This will help ensure that the goals and recommendations laid out by the Task Force are unbiased and inclusive."

Task force members include:

• Sophia Hernandez, Student
• Noah Brou, Student
• Kya Dyous-Goulden, Student
• Liza Lopes, Student
• Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent, Superintendent
• Sophia Jean, School Psychologist
• Dr. Bernadette Ricciardelli, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
• Jody Liu, Assistant Principal, McGlynn Middle School
• Cherose Walker, Assistant Principal, Medford High School
• Dr. Nicole Chiesa, Director of Humanities
• Stacey Schulman, Director of School Counseling and Behavioral Health
• Dr. Peter Cushing, Assistant Superintendent
• Suzannah Campbell, Coordinator of Speech/Language/Hearing Services
• Neil Osborne, Director of Diversity and Human Resources, City of Medford, Consultant
• Leticia Rocha, Community Member
• Sidonie Pierce, Teacher
• Paulette D’Oyley, Parent
• Carin Chen, Teacher
• Beth Myers, Parent
• Michelle Godfrey, Parent
• Elizabeth Baez, Parent
• Tope Fadiran, Parent
• Christina Dyous, Parent
• William Barabino, Parent
• Alexandra Watkins, Parent
• Grace Caldara, Parent